Healthy and Climate Resilient Nation: Developing a Climate and Health Early Warning System for Samoa

Bodeker Scientific facilitated a
scoping visit by two senior management staff of the Ministry of Health (MoH),
Government of Samoa, Ms Penny Gaualofa Matalavea Saaga, Assistant Chief
Executive Officer, and Ms Victoria Ieremia Faasili, Principal Climate Change and
Health Officer, to Wellington from 4 to 8 August 2014. The purpose of the visit was to continue the
conversation amongst key stakeholders (MoH, Environmental Sciences & Research (ESR), National
Institute of Water and Atmospheric (NIWA), Bodeker Scientific, University of Auckland and University of Otago) leading
the implementation of “Activity 3: Incorporate the health science
sector as it relates to the application of climate science & research”
of the Working Group on Climate Monitoring, Research and Services in the
Pacific (WG CMRSP).

The WG CMRSP is one of the WGs of the United States-New Zealand
Joint Commission Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation (JCM), which
last met in Washington, DC in September 2012. The main objectives of this recent visit
were to raise awareness and visibility of the Climate and Health work in Samoa and
to demonstrate the benefits of the work by:

Reviewing previous efforts and work accomplished related to climate
and health

Documenting the outcomes of that work

Exploring new opportunities
to further enhance climate and health work in Samoa

The visit comprised a four day meeting and
one full day study tours of ESR and NIWA’s facilities. The visit was funded by the
New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The main
output from the visit was a draft concept paper “Healthy and Climate Resilient Nation: Developing a Climate and Early
Warning System for Samoa.”